USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1909-1912 > Part 37
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Butter fat
3.89
Total solids
12.91
Twenty six licenses have been issued during the year, also ·eighteen registrations.
Respectfully submitted,
H. A. SIMONDS, Inspector of Milk.
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Water and Sewerage Board
OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1911
114
Second Annual Report of the Water and Sewerage Board
The annual report of the Wakefield Water and Sewerage Board is herewith presented, including the ninth annual report of the Water Department and the twelfth annual report of the Sewer Department.
The water plant has again proved itself a splendid asset by dem- onstrating its special financial value to the town.
The increasing receipts have shown a balance, or surplus, over all regular expenses of $5,509.50, although there has been a fur- ther reduction of rates during the year.
The extraordinary expenses, for extension of the intake and for Metropolitan water to the amount of $4,948.79, have been met from the surplus income of this year.
The board believes that the time has come for the installation of meters, which ought to lower the consumption of water twenty per cent or more. The members of the special water committee, in discussing the subject at a recent meeting, expressed the same views.
115
Whatever course the town may decide to take in regard to its water supply, meters will be necessary.
By vote of the town, some years ago, it was decided to set aside the surplus from the water plant for an emergency fund, it being expected that enough money would be accumulated to provide for meters, or other extraordinary expenditures, such as replacing the main on Main street with a larger size, thus obtaining ample fire protection by a larger supply of water in the business centre.
This surplus fund has been used by the town to reduce the tax rate ; it will therefore be necessary to issue bonds, with added interest charges, for the purchase and installation of meters.
There has been added to the pipe system, 3,730 feet of street mains, to meet the requirements of the new building boom in town, and 5,600 feet of service pipe have been laid and connected.
The duties in the Sewer Department have also increased. From an appropriation of $650.00, for maintenance, there is a balance of $378.06 which will be needed for work in cleaning and flushing the sewers during the winter, as our regular men were employed in the new construction of sewers during the summer. This will provide a more permanent employment throughout the year.
The town appropriated $5,500.00 for sewer construction on Albion, Gould and Byron streets. This work has been done by department employees, and there is an unexpended balance of $411.18.
The southern part of the town, including the Junction and Greenwood districts, has been planned and laid out for sewer con- struction, and the plans have been approved by the State Board of Health. This will enable the board, as soon as the weather will permit, to commence the construction of the sewers in Ren- wick Road and Ashland street, for which an appropriation has been made.
116
FINANCIAL STATISTICS OF THE WATER PLANT
FROM DECEMBER 1903 TO DECEMBER 31, 1911
Value of plant 1903
$235,000 00
New construction and improvements, 1904
14,000 00
66
1905
.
12,500 00
66
66
1906
5,000 00
66
1907
7,000 00
1908
3,000 00
66
1909
5,600 00
66
1910
.
8,400 00
66
66
1911
5,000 00
Present value
$295,500 00
Cost of plant, capitalization
$235,000 00
Bond reduction, to date
. 32,000 00
Present indebtedness
203,000 00
Financial gain in water plant
$92,500 00
Additional profit to town and consumers :
Reduction in hydrant rates and street
sprinkling, eight years
$19,600 00
Reduced rates to consumers
. 40,000 00
Surplus taken by town, 1904
7,000 00
66 66
1906
3,500 00 .
66
66 66 1907
· 1,500 00
66
66 66
1908
1,000 00
לי
water dept. fund, 1909
. 3,351 66
66
" . 1910
. 4,189 26
.
·
80,140 92
Total gain to town and consumers dur- ing eight years of town ownership
$172,640 92
·
.
117
SERVICES
New services added during the year
66
Services relaid during the year ·
42
Total
108
On private land On public land
Total
New services
2082 ft.
1251 ft.
3333 ft.
Relaid services. .
1340 928
2268
Total
3422 ft.
2179 ft.
5601 ft.
Number of water takers, December, 1903 .
1,632
66
66
January 31, 1905 .
1,718
66
66
66
66
1907 .
1,778
66
66
66
66
1909
1,937
66
66
December 31, 1909 .
1,954
66
1910
2,055
66
66
66
66
1911
.
2,126
HYDRANTS
Number of hydrants, January 1, 1911
208
New hydrants added during the year
8
Present number of hydrants
Four of the new hydrants were paid for from the maintenance appropriation and four from the construction appropriation.
LOCATION OF NEW HYDRANTS
Cedar street, halfway between Albion and Gould streets.
Cedar street, near corner of Gould street.
Elm street, 300 ft. east of Parker Road. Elm street, 300 ft. west of Parker Road. Pittman avenue, opposite house of I. Holt.
Water street, between Brook avenue and Farm street.
Foundry street, opposite S. & A. Foundry. Eustis avenue, opposite house of E. C. Temple.
6 6
66 1906 .
·
1,879
66
1908 .
.
1,927
66
.
.
216
.
118
WATER PUMPED DURING THE YEAR
January
20,681,832
February
.
.
9
.
·
16,927,520
March
19,468,622
April
20,195,936
May
25,095,535 .
June
23,39.6,420 .
July, 26 days (5 days Metropolitan water)
24,236,798
August, 13 days (18 days Metropolitan water)
8,408,336
September (Metropolitan water)
October (Metropolitan water)
November ( Metropolitan water)
December (Metropolitan water)
158,410,999 gals.
We close this report with detailed accounts of the expenditures under the maintenance and construction appropriations.
MAINTENANCE-PAY ROLLS
George Daniel .
$936 00
William H. Butler
1,050 00
Albert R. Perkins
1,000 00
Patrick Sexton
788 48
Arthur Gibbons
671 14
James Hurton
. 810 26
Patrick Curran
·
180 19
William Sullivan
430 75
George Branch
15 00
Patrick Higgins
63 50
Patrick Duggan
109 75
Charles Doyle, team
196 00
F. J. Black, police
2 30
J. A. Peterson, police
2 30
H. DeRoche, police
1 50
A. P. Butler
.
.
37 00
James Qualter .
2 00
·
.
·
.
.
119
Patrick Keefe
122 25
Edward Neville
.
.
73 00
Dennis McCarthy
2 00
Jeremiah Murphy
259 00
Patrick Muse
51 00
Patrick Murphy
55 00
William Holden
415 00
Michael O'Connell
29 00
Edward Welch
26 00
Robert Kennedy
45 50
Alex. Muse
36 00
John Roche
92 00
John Manning
15 50
H. A. Simonds
60 00
Joseph Muse
16 00
Charles Pathero
14 00
Dennis Desmond
85 00
Henry Eager
33 00
William Hickey
12 00
Isaiah White
12 00
George Couillard
8 00
Sylvine Muse
12 00
Thomas Welch
18 00
Dennis Connors
5 00
Michael Riley
2 00
Mortimer Butler
6 00
Enos Hubbard
2 00
Elmer Bennett
6 00
James Millerick
2 00
Thomas Lyons .
62 00
Patrick Farrington
2 00
Jeremiah Doucette
2 00
James O'Connor
54 75
Patrick Quinn
134 50
John Welch
37 50
John Murray
·
8 00
Fred Hanson
6 00
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
120
Martin Connolly
56 00
James Dalton .
38 00
George Ledwith
44 00
Walter Anderson
7 20
William Welch
3€ 25
Charles Pulio
24 00
James McGrath
9 50
Patrick Maloney
113 75
James Hennessey
31 00
Patrick Leary
34 00
Patrick Collins
6 00
Timothy Sliney
18 00
Patrick Welch
29 00
$8,563 67
MAINTENANCE-EXPENDITURES
New England Tel. & Tel. Co., telephones $128 97
Municipal Light Plant, gas and electricity
.
4.5 39
Municipal Light Plant, repairs 10 10 .
Estate J. Flanley, office rent .
225 00
H. M. Dolbeare, printing and advertising ·
35 70
Citizen and Banner Press, printing and postage 25 50
Curley Bros., hay and grain
80 04
L. H. Kirk, hay and grain
145 17
G. H. Taylor, supplies
29 65
J. T. Gosnay, stable supplies
27.65
New England Coal & Coke Co., coal
1,373 78
John Toomey, teaming coal
128 35
Boston & Maine R. R., coal freights . 248 03
Lead Lined Iron Pipe Co., pipe and fittings
836 43
J. W. Grace, hardware The Elliot Co., stencils
2 16
John Toomey, wood .
4 00
C. Welch, k. oil
7 60
W. S. Atherton, k. oil
1 00
W. L. Block, k. oil
3 85
A. R. Perkins, insurance premium
25 00
.
.
.
3 05
.
121
Chadwick-Boston Lead Co., lead and solder
15 80
H. F. Miller & Sons, barrels
3 00
H. Morgan, mason work
5 55
A. S. Morss Co., switch
80
T. R. McNelly, shoeing
11 25
Empire Rubber Co., packing
50 75
Richardson & Clement, pipe cutter
2 50
John Jaffrey & Co. barrels
25 00
Crandell Packing Co., packing
20 77
Locke Regulator Co., valves
12 48
Loughlin Bros., plumbing
8 50
C. Bowering, repairs
7 65
G. M. Kelley, shoeing
4 10
A. T. Howard, book
7 25
Johns-Manville Co., packing
6 83
Renssaler Valve Co., hydrants
210 60
C. H. Gerrior, suction pipe
190 00
Oliver Whyte Co., copper net
103 50
Garlock Packing Co., packing
18 25
H. E. Butler, line
10
Smith & Anthony Co., clamps
78 94
Sanitas Mfg. Co., bands 133 50
Dyar Supply Co., supplies 36 50
Thorpe & Martin Co., stationery
1 00
Wakefield Shoe & Clothing Co., rubber boots
22 75
Wannamaker & Feindel, blacksmith work
96 70
Curry Bros. Oil Co., tools
47 76
Dexter Bros., paints
5 70
Walworth Mfg. Co., pipe and fittings
383 20
Lucas Bros., clock repairs
1 75
A. T. Locke, lumber
51 36
S. H. Hellen, cement
1 00
National Meter Co., meters and repairs
114 00
A. B. ('omins, express
8 55
American Express
10 64
Boston & Maine Railroad, freights
16 39
Boston & Maine Railroad, tickets
9 10
.
122
R. Wilkinson, R. stamp
25
S. B. Dearborn, postage
2 00
J. Meade, meals for diver
50
D. Dudley, keys
1 00
W. H. Butler, telephone, etc.
50
W. M. Singer, veterinary services
3 00
Mrs. J. E. Kelley, cleaning
8 25
T. Ringer, interest 10 00
A. A. Mansfield, sealing scales
3 54
H. B. McArdle, stationery
8 75
M. Reardon, clipping horse
3 00
Killorin Conracting Co., cr. stone
4 16
Crosby St. Gauge and Valve Co., Thermo. .
1 65
A. M. Beyers Co., galv. pipe
53 36
H. L. Bond Co., tools, etc.
342 50
Merritt & Chapman, diver services
20 96
C. Doyle, teaming
28 00
M. J. Finnegan, gravel
4 60
Waldo Bros., manhole covers
7 20
G. E. Gilchrist, galvanized pipe
151 49
Grip Coupling Co., couplings
50 25
Hands & Coon, cement
3 75
Scott Printing Co., printing and postage
39 50
H. M. Meek Pub. Co., directory
3 00
Wakefield Planing Mill, boards
1 35
Eastern Oil Co., oil
3 85
Chapman Valve Co., valves
27 80
J. C. Paige & Co , liability insurance
159 63
Builders Iron Foundry, sleeves
61 20
The Pitometer Co., tests
73 40
W. F. Knox, nails
2 40
Town of Stoneham, taxes
102 99
Town of Lynnfield, taxes
1 10
Chadwick. Iron Works, copper
2 75
Chandler & Farquhar, drills
13 89
Foreign Steel Co., files
7 12
Knowles St. Pump Works, repairs
129 78
.
.
.
.
.
.
123
L. E. Bourdon, photos
4 00
H. A. Feindel, carpenter work
162 52
Quaker City Rubber Co., packing
1 33
W. Kendall, painting wagon
.
16 00
Wells Bros. Co , tools ·
.
4 32
G. E. Winslow, recording dials
.
3 10
Ludlow Valve Co., parts
2 70
W. W. Wilder, painting wagon and pung
35 00
A. B. Davis, carpenter work Davis Farnham Co., C. I. Tee
11 24
Wakefield Ice Co., ice
5 00
Ordway, Loring & Ricker, lap robe
8 00
E. A. Carlisle, Pope Co., window
1 45
J. J. Hughes, gasolene
75
A. Urquhart, glass .
1 00
P. J. Carr, gas engine repairs
2 50
Cutler Bros., supplies
45
F. E. Dewey & Co., lanterns
8 00
People's Clothing Store, r. boots
5 50
$6,722 87
CONSTRUCTION-PAY ROLLS
W. H. Butler
$ 50 00
Patrick Sexton
27 50
Arthur Gibbons
94 63
Patrick Curran .
5 06
Patrick Higgins
6 50
William Sullivan
7 00
Patrick Keefe
62 50
Jeremiah Murphy
61 50
William Holden
7 00
Alex. Muse
50 00
Patrick Murphy
52 00
John Roche
28 00
Elmer Bennett
35 00
John Manning
50 50
Robert Kennedy
.
.
40 50
.
.
.
.
.
.
1 60
124
Patrick Muse
39 00
William Sweeney
20 00
James Millerick
14 00
Thomas Lyons
47 50
Michael Lalley
18 00
Thomas Kane
7 00
James O'Connor
76 25
Patrick Farrington
18 00
Dennis Connors
.
24 00
Jeremiah Doucette
14 00
James Hennessey
2 00
Patrick Quinn
55 50-
John Welch
43 50
Charles Puleo
26 00
John Mckenzie
10 00
Isaiah White
41 00
William Hickey
.
36 00
Sylvine Surrette
7 00
Patrick Welch
42 00
Peter Surrette
2 00
George Ledwith
38 00
John Murray
2 00
Fred Hanson
4 00
William Welch
12 00
Charles Doyle, team
56 00
Joseph Muse
12 00
Charles Pathero
.
12 00
Michael Connors
8 00
Sylvine Muse
12 00
Martin Connolly
27 00
Michael Riley
4 00
Mortimer Butler
6 00
James McGrath
12 00
Edward Neville
21 00
Thomas Welch .
2 00
Dennis Desmond
8 00
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
$1356 44
.
.
125
CONSTRUCTION-EXPENDITURES
United States C. I. Pipe & Foundry Co., pipe
$2,058 38
W. R. Conard, inspection of pipe .
27 48
Boston & Maine Railroad, freight
338 26
Builders Iron Foundry, specials
8 92
Geo. E. Gilchrist, C. I. plugs
9.50
. Davis & Farnum Co., specials
18 56
147 86
Chadwick-Boston Lead Co., lead Wannamaker & Feindel, sharpening tools
3 80
Charles Doyle, teaming
30 00
Rensselaer Valve Co., hydrant and gates J. C. Paige & Co., Liability insurance Charles R. Gow Co., extending intake .
85 00
574 41
$3,576 92
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. DEAN,
JAMES H. KIMBALL, THOMAS G. O'CONNELL.
Wakefield Water and Sewerage Board.
See additional statement under financial reports.
.
274 75
26
Report of Overseers of the Poor
The Overseers in presenting their annual report for the year just closed are pleased to state that they have carefully attendcd to their duties to the best of their ability.
A valued member of the board Mr. Edward Hazen Walton passed away July 19, 1911, necessitating the appointment of a member in his stead. This vacancy was filled by the appointment of Albert D. Cate.
At the present time there are at the Almshouse 7 male and 3 female inmates, most of whom are advanced in years and in feeble condition, requiring a great deal of care. For a detailed statement of our financial condition we refer you to the Auditors' report.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH CONNELL, Chairman, WM. F. BOWMAN, ALBERT D. CATE, Sec'y.
127
INVENTORY TAKEN DEC. 31, 1911
3 horses .
.
.
$800 00
16 cows at $80
1,280 00
1 bull · .
40 00
16 tons hay at $22 .
350 00
Harnesses
25 00
Hose .
4 00
Grain
10 00
Salt
2 00
40 tons ensilage .
160 00
Buggy
75 00
Molasses
13 00
Farm wagon .
100 00
. Farm tools · .
10 00
Horse rake and tedder
35 00
Mowing machine
.
25 00
2 ploughs
10 00
16 empty barrels
4 00
Corn planters and 2 cultivators
20 00
Dray and harrow . .
5 00
2 carts and hay wagon
150 00
Heavy wagon
100 00
Manure spreader
90 00
Wheel and spring tooth harrows
13 00
Iron roller
5 00
Lumber
10 00
20 cords wood sawed and split at $6
.
120 00
140 hens
.
125 00
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
128
2 sleds
.
85 00
35 pigs
220 00
12 boxes swill 6 00
65 bushels potatoes
65 00
10 bbls. cabbage
10 00
25 bushels beets and turnips
15 00
25 tons coal at $6.40 .
160 00
Scales
10 00
Milk cooler
10 00
Kerosene oil
2 00
75 cords of manure at $6
450 00
Wheelbarrow
3 00
Groceries
75 00
Household goods
400 00
.
.
.
$5,122 00
EDWARD HAZEN WALTON
Born July 4, 1823 Died July 19, 1911
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1911
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1911-1912
Arthur H. Boardman, Ch'n., 56 Pleasant St., Term expires 1914 Mrs. Ida Farr Miller, Sec., 18 Lawrence St. 1912 16
Ashton H. Thayer, Treas., 25 Yale Ave.
1913
Mrs. Eva Gowing Ripley, 40 Emerson St. C. N. Winship, Jordan Ave.
66 1913
6 .
66 1912
Dr. Charles E. Montague, 26 Chestnut St.
1914
130
SUB-COMMITTEES
Mr. Thayer
PUBLIC PROPERTY Dr. Montague Mr. Winship
Mr. Winship
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS Dr. Montague
Mr. Boardman
Mrs. Miller
TEACHERS AND SALARIES Mr. Thayer Mr. Boardman
Mrs. Ripley
COURSES OF STUDY Mr. Thayer
Mrs. Miller
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES Mrs. Ripley Mr. Winship
Dr. Montague
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Willard B. Atwell, 75 Pleasant St.
OFFICE HOURS
Mondays, 7 to 8 p. m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 8.30 a. m. Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5.30 p. m.
Office, Flanley Block.
Telephone, Office 471-W. Residence 14-M.
Miss Gertrude V. Lofstrom, clerk. Hours 8-12 and 1.30 to 5 on School Days.
REGULAR MEETINGS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Second and fourth Fridays of each month at 8 p. m. at Com- mittee Rooms, Flanley Block.
131
Report of the School Committee
After six years of faithful service, on July first Mr. Jacob H. Carfrey resigned as superintendent of our schools and now holds a like position in the towns of Franklin and Wrentham. The Committee after weeks of careful investigation chose as his suc- cessor Mr. Willard B. Atwell, who for five years had successfully supervised the school district of Stratford, Columbia and North- umberland, N. H.
In April Sirs. M. E. Wentworth tendered her resignation as principal of the Lincoln school to take effect at the close of the school; year, thus completing forty years of singularly faithful and efficient service as a teacher in our schools.
Mr T. Frank Shea who had been principal of the Franklin School since the opening of the new building in 1902 was pro- moted to the principalship of the Lincoln School
The Committee, believing that the average child at five years of age is not sufficiently developed to satisfactorily accomplish the work in the first grade, voted to raise the age of admission to five years before July first, and it is the intention of the Com- mittee to make the age of admission five years before April first of this year. We believe this will result in fewer failures of pro- motion and be for the best interests of the children.
This year an assistant to the Principal at the Warren School has been employed so that now all buildings of eight rooms or over have an assistant to the principal, thus giving the principal more time to supervise the work of the school.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The expenditures for repairs of school buildings have been large, but more ought to have been done. £ The largest single expenditure was in replacing crematory closets at the Warren school with ordinary wash down closets. The entire heating plant at the Warren school was overhauled, several broken cast- ings replaced, and all the furnaces reset. This also was an expensive job.
132 - th
At the Hamilton school the chimneys were taken down to the roof and rebuilt, and the school rooms and corridors kalsomined. This eompletes the renovating of the Hamilton school begun by a special committee last year.
The outside of the Hurd school and of the Montrose school have been painted and a part of the cellar at the Woodville school cemented. £ In the basement of the Lincoln school most of the cement has been relaid.
At the Warren school the hall in the third story and the corri- dors have been wired for electric lights, and at the Franklin school service pipe has been put in for gas and plans made to light the hall and corridors.
Another section of the concrete in the yard of the Lincoln school has been resurfaced, and the concrete about the High school and at the Franklin school also. This was done by the Highway Department, but at the expense of the School Depart- ment. Early in the year the Greenwood Improvement Associa- tion expressed a desire to co-operate with us in regrading the yard in the rear of the Greenwood school, and one hundred dollars was appropriated for that purpose, the work being done under the supervision of the association. The usual careful attention has been given to the minor repairs of all sorts, small individually, but large in the aggregate. It seems each year as if there would be less to do the next year, but somehow there proves to be more and more every year that simply must be done.
We recommend appropriations as follows :
Salaries
$52,841 00
Fuel
4,690 00
Contingent
.
4,000 00
Books and Supplies
3,200 00
Evening School
1,000 00
$65,731 00
and that the tuition receipts estimated at $2,000.00 be added to the appropriation.
133
The salary schedule follows the report of the superintendent. The detailed statement of expenditures and the list of unpaid bills appear in the last of the book. We invite careful reading of the reports of the Superintendent and of the Principal of the High school, particularly in regard to the conditions at the High school.
ARTHUR H. BOARDMAN,
IDA FARR MILLER, ASHTON H. THAYER, CHARLES E. MONTAGUE, EVA GOWING RIPLEY, CHARLES N. WINSHIP
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
I hereby submit my first annual report which of necessity must be short as I can give an account of only sixteen weeks of school work.
In the first place I wish to express my appreciation for the cordial reception to the Town of Wakefield by the School Com- mittee, teachers and citizens. I also wish to thank the different departments of the town for hearty co-operation.
It is proper at this time to give a word or two concerning the conditions which I found upon assuming my office. I found that the administration was very good. The schools were in a flourish- ing condition and everything had been so planned that we were able to begin our school year in September without any undue confusion. The conditions spoke well for the ability of my pred- ecessor.
In this report I shall merely mention some of the special work that we have been doing, call attention to some weaknesses and try to suggest some possible remedies.
134
ADMINISTRATION
Principals of large building containing over three hundred pupils,' should be principal in fact as well as in name. This of necessity means that the principal should not devote the whole of his time to teaching, nor even the greater part of it. There are many demands made during the day upon his time. For one thing, a parent wishes to consult him about the work or conduct of his child. This should certainly be encouraged, and if it is to be encouraged the principal must have some time to give the visitor. We want the parents to visit the schools often, that they may have first hand knowledge of affairs. We need co-operation between the parents and teachers, and the better each knows the other, the more healthy and efficient will our system become. I therefore suggest that the amount of time that the principal spends in active teaching shall be reduced.
I have held a meeting for principals once each month. We have made this practically a round table meeting where all can discuss freely the problems of administrating the work of the schools. These meetings have brought the heads of the schools together in a professional way, and have given them a chance not only to exchange ideas, but perhaps see some problems in a new light. A uniform scheme for running the schools has been made possible by these meetings.
General directions to teachers are given through the principals. After each visit to the schools a short conference is held with the principal and the suggestions that have been made are reported to him for his knowledge, that he may see that results are obtained from them.
SPECIAL WORK
Many of our rooms are overcrowded. I shall speak of this later on in this report, but at this point I wish to call your atten- tion to some special work which is being tried out in the Lincoln school.
The classes are so large that it is practically impossible for a teacher to give anything like individual instruction. Mrs. Knight, who has been serving as a permanent substitute, is now acting as a special teacher, doing individual work or with small
135
groups. I quote the following from Principal Shea's report : "In many instances, Mrs. Knight is supplementing and reinforc- ing what the teachers are doing. She is also assisting in the eighth grade by doing individual work and hearing recitations. This special work with the pupils, needing more attention than the regular teacher can give, is showing progress by such pupils, who will doubtless keep on with their grades instead of falling by the wayside. This work is done largely in the small room where pupils and teacher are brought into close contact. This fact enhances the value of the work both to the individual and to the group so instructed. By personal observation I have seen these pupils receive intellectual sensations which they should have received from one to three years before. How their faces have brightened up with the satisfaction of having successfully sur- mounted a difficulty.
"Four children entering this country within a short time were started in the first grade ; the regular teacher had too little time to devote to them and they doubtless would go there today. They had the special work with Mrs. Knight and two of them are in the second grade ; the other two are in the room occupied by the third and fourth grades with the prospect of soon working into the fourth. They will probably enter the fifth before the end of the year. " Every retarded pupil is an added expense to the town, therefore, every retardation that we prevent is a saving. We see by the above quotation that two pupils are saved practi- cally four years' work in our schools, while two are saved at least one year. These are only a sample of what is being done along
this line. Many other pupils who might, and probably would, fall by the wayside are reclaimed and saved. It appeals to me that Mrs. Knight's services are costing the town practically nothing because of the time saved for pupils who without indi- vidual help would not be able to keep up with their grade. Mrs. Knight also serves as regular substitute in the Lincoln School. The expense of the salary of another substitute is thereby saved. I would recommend that a similar teacher be employed in the eight room buildings or at least two more be employed who might divide their time among these schools.
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